The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace proposal during their upcoming meeting and to reject any plans to annex the West Bank. The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, believes that annexation would hinder Israel’s relations with other important Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right politicians who favor annexing the West Bank, which could eliminate hopes for a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu is expected to respond to Trump’s Gaza peace proposal during his meeting with the U. S. president at the White House. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed conveyed his country’s stance on the peace plan to Netanyahu during a meeting at the U. N. General Assembly, emphasizing support for the plan’s potential benefits for all involved. He urged Netanyahu to engage with the Trump administration to help implement the proposal.
Trump has been discussing his peace framework with various Arab leaders to resolve the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas. He expressed hope that Netanyahu would agree to the framework during their meeting. The White House indicated that a deal between Israel and Hamas is “very close. “
Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Research Center chairman noted that the kingdom welcomed Trump’s commitments against forced deportation from Gaza and West Bank annexation, stating that Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel without a strong commitment to a two-state solution and a viable Palestinian state.
Arab and Muslim countries reportedly convinced Trump that annexing the West Bank would be unacceptable, leading him to distance himself from that idea publicly. They warned that Israel must not undermine its chances of becoming a “normal country” with regional ties.
The 21-point Trump framework aims to encourage Palestinians to remain in Gaza while outlining a conditional path to Palestinian statehood, which contrasts with previous proposals that suggested relocating Gaza’s population. The plan seeks to balance Palestinian needs with Israeli security demands, including disarmament of Hamas and Gaza’s demilitarization. It proposes a restructured Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza and a temporary international force to oversee redevelopment and security.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 66,000 Palestinians, with many homes damaged and the residents facing a humanitarian crisis. The war started after Hamas attacked Israeli territory in October 2023, leading to significant Israeli casualties and hostage situations.
With exclusive information from Reuters
